President Obamas deal with congressional Republicans on extending the Bush tax cuts that has now been passed by both the House and the Senate and will be signed by him this week suggests a fundamental misreading -- by Democrats and Republicans alike -- of the implications of Novembers historic election. Not only that but it suggests as well the failure of the president and both parties to deal in a rational way with the new balance of power in Washington.

Coming on the heels of the Bipartisan Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform report, which underscored the need to significantly reduce and ultimately eliminate the national debt that is more than $13 trillion, not increase it even more, we are deeply alarmed by the willingness of President Obama and both parties to sacrifice the national interest for political gain -- with a deal which at best can be viewed as the meeting in the middle of two failed policies.

IMHO, this piece sums up what most Americans are thinking... another excerpt says:

Voters are looking for policymakers and political leadership that champion fiscal discipline; limited government; deficit reduction; a free market, a pro-growth agenda; and comprehensive plans to create employment opportunities, enable entrepreneurship, and aid business creation.

But, the biggest problem conservatism faces is NOT that every policy put forward in Congress these days is an assault on all of the above, and everything else that we hold dear. It is that those that claim conservatism in general have yet to mobilize in their own local districts - and FOUND WHAT 'Voters are looking for.'

Yes there was a sort of 'house cleaning' in the last election, but that was only a meager start at what needs to be done across this nation. We've only scratched the surface - and I fear this nation's voters have not the time, knowledge, will - or even the inclination, to avoid the loss of this nation.

I think the idea would be to find one or more ‘John Deans’ who could be turned to tell the truth about the whole maneuver. That would put as many politicians as bankers in prison (which would be a good start).

The most important concept they remain unclear on is limited government. Everything else -- the taxes, the regulatory climate, the fiscal discipline -- is an extension of that idea, which they fail to grasp.

I don’t think the message was that we want taxes raised. It was that we want programs cut. Let’s start by the feds getting out of areas where they have no Constitutional responsibility like education, health, social programs and welfare.

I agree that Pat Caddell and Doug Schoen accurately analyzed the current situation in Washington and that neither political party seems to be dealing with reality. I'm very worried that, based on recent history and some of the 'veteran' Republicans being appointed to important chairmanships in congress, that we'll end up with many repeats of the 'tax cut deal' that is, as Caddell and Schoen put it: "the meeting in the middle of two failed policies". I hope I'm wrong - but if the Republicans fail us, conservatives will have to consider (gulp!) a third party. However, I would much prefer to see the Tea Party activists persuade congressional Republicans to start doing the will of the people, and not a moment too soon, at that.

Until the American public wakes up - and DEMANDS that government union control of our Congress-critter staffing is eliminated - and WE DEMAND a return to Congress meeting for only three months out of the year (as they did for over 150 years of this nation's history) - we will continue to suffer from the confiscation of our wealth at ever increasing levels.

Agreed the GOP isn’t listening now, but they did wake up to the protests at least.

The Democrats are saying that they got voted out because the they didn’t communicate clearly to the voters. Republicans aren’t claiming that they did a better job communicating to voters. Republicans are already backtracking from promises made in the campaign. Too much is already being “compromised”.

19
posted on 12/17/2010 1:55:13 PM PST
by a fool in paradise
(The establishment clause isn't just against my OWN government establishing state religion in America)

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